A team of researchers from the Yale School of Medicine have discovered that the body produces a chemical while fasting or dieting which inhibits a portion of the immune system. This particular portion of the immune system is concerned with inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 2 Diabetes. I found this study very interesting and useful. Take a look at some of what they have determined.

FastingThe researchers discussed how NLRP3 is directly inhibited by the compound β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). NLRP3 is a part of a very complicated series of proteins known as inflammasome. These proteins control the inflammatory response of a number of diseases. These include those mentioned above as well as numerous other autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases. Vishwa Deep Dixit believes this is very important because it may be a powerful weapon in the fight against numerous inflammatory disorders. Professor Vishwa Deep Dixit works with the Section of Comparative Medicine within the Yale School of Medicine.

NLRP3 is inhibited by endogenous metabolites such as BHB. This is a metabolite which is produced by the body as a response to high impact exercise, caloric restricted diets, low calorie ketogenic diets, and fasting. Professor Dixit states that it was not clear whether immune cells could respond to metabolites created by fat oxidation or what method these cells employed to adjust to the restricted availability of glucose.

One of the main focuses of this study was discovering exactly what method macrophages used in response to the exposure of ketone bodies and whether this had any impact upon the inflammasone protein complex. Macrophages are white blood cells responsible for a process known as phagocytosis. During this process macrophages actually consume microbial foreign substances including cancer cells.

The team employed the use of both human and mice immune cells to conduct this study. They took mice models of inflammatory disorders which were caused by NLP3 and introduced BHB into that environment. The team discovered that this did indeed reduce inflammation. The inflammation was also decreased upon feeding the mice a ketogenic diet which is known to increase the BHB levels within the bloodstream.

Knowing that high impact exercise* and diets low in carbohydrates causes the body to produce metabolites such as BHB thereby lowering NLRP3 inflammasome protein complexes place some powerful weapons in your arsenal against auto-inflammatory and auto-immune deficiencies. Many medical professionals have been stating that diet plays a pivotal role fighting disease for many years now. The results of this important study provide some scientific facts that prove this truth.

More and more evidence is being provided every day that demonstrates chronic inflammation is one of the main causes of numerous extremely serious illnesses. Some of these include certain types of cancers, heart diseases, and Alzheimer’ disease. These are only a few of the extremely dangerous illnesses related to chronic inflammation.

Normally inflammation is foundation of the immune system and the body’s self-healing response; however, when it persists for long periods of time or is not actually necessary this response results in serious damage and dangerous diseases. High levels of stress and exposure to increasing amounts of micro and macro toxins, which you are bombarded with every day, causes chronic inflammation. Your diet is one of your most formidable weapons against these toxins and the resulting disorders.